Chapter 4: Gathering Fengfu Stars

After rigorous refinement, the Jiuyin grass has undergone significant improvements. Also, Earth Dragon Root has carefully been refined. And Yanweizi, has been meticulously crafted. ... Drake Dragon devoted several hours to meticulously refining over thirty varieties of herbal medicines, one by one. The intense labor left him drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted. Elixir refinement is an intricate process that goes beyond mere herbal extraction. It entails extracting the essence of each herb, eliminating impurities, and transforming it into a fine powder. Unfortunately, the quality of the fire in Drake Dragon's hands was subpar, resulting in powdered elixirs with numerous impurities. However, he had no other choice but to make do with what he had. Firstly, Drake Dragon's cultivation level was not sufficient, leaving him unable to sustain a continuous energy flow to fuel the elixir fire, thus weakening the flame's power. Secondly, Drake Dragon lacked the opportunity and capability to tame other flames, therefore restricted to using what he had. Fengfu Dan is a first-level elixir that typically requires an alchemy disciple's expertise to refine. However, in order to excel in the art of alchemy, one needs not only a powerful elixir fire but also ample spiritual energy. Most importantly, one must possess exceptionally potent soul power. The former two prerequisites are relatively attainable. As long as the necessary conditions are met, capturing and taming fire monsters as pets to cultivate their flames can yield robust results. Over ninety-nine percent of alchemists employ animal fire. Only a few with ancient lineages and formidable strength can command the enigmatic and ethereal spiritual flames found in the world. Spiritual fire, a flame endowed with a soul. In Drake Dragon's recollections, there was tantalizingly something about mastering an immensely potent heaven and earth spirit fire. Regrettably, despite his extraordinary abilities, Drake Dragon was still bound to relying on his toilsome, mediocre fire to continue his elixir refinement, unable to unlock the full potential residing within his memory. Rest time was nearly upon Drake Dragon, prompting him to take a deep breath. "Swoosh." A half-foot-long wax-yellow flame flickered to life in the palm of his hand, emanating an intense heat. "It's passable. The previous refinements have marginally strengthened the flames. It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing." After consecutively placing the seven essential medicinal essences into the furnace, Drake Dragon unleashed his soul power, causing the flame in his hand to surge, its strength multiplied several times over. "If other alchemists were to witness me igniting flames using soul power, they would surely be astounded," Drake Dragon murmured with a wry smile. An alchemist's most invaluable asset is their soul power. It is an innate quality that passively improves alongside one's cultivation level. Soul power serves as the foundation of alchemy. During the process of refining an elixir, it is necessary to exert significant soul power to control the heat. Any slight error risks wasting all prior efforts and reducing the elixir to ash. If the elixir possesses exceptional potency, it could even cause the furnace to explode. Typically, alchemists reserve the deployment of soul power for the middle and later stages of the refinement process, when the elixir is on the verge of taking form. During this crucial period, the flame's temperature must continuously fluctuate—sometimes high, sometimes low, alternately intense and gentle—resulting in substantial soul power consumption. Exhausting the soul power during this stage renders the pill furnace practically worthless. Astonishingly, Drake Dragon chose to utilize his soul power right from the start. This precious soul power was utilized solely to amplify the fire's intensity. Any alchemist would consider it an abhorrent waste, even if they were careless spendthrifts. However, Drake Dragon felt no fear. According to his memories, his current soul power was on par with that of a typical alchemist. Drake Dragon possessed detailed recollections of a formidable alchemy emperor, granting him a clear understanding of his own capabilities. During his recent reawakening, Drake Dragon's soul power had undergone a mutation, endowing him with extraordinary strength. Hence, he possessed the qualifications to employ such a method. "Buzz." The pill furnace before Drake Dragon quivered slightly, emitting a soft noise. "Ah, adding fuel to the fire has accelerated the process significantly." In a rush, he swiftly added three additional herbs into the furnace. Beads of sweat formed on Drake Dragon's forehead, indicating the intensity of his efforts. He swiftly retrieved a two-foot-long stalk of grass and inserted one end into a jar brimming with Qi-Returning Liquid, while placing the other end into his mouth. With a deep breath, he drew in the liquid. As the Qi-Reviving Liquid made its way into his abdomen, his pores opened wide, greedily absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy. The once dwindling supply of spiritual energy rapidly replenished itself. This preparation was meticulously planned by Drake Dragon and was essential to the refinement of the Fengfu Pill. Without it, attempting to refine the pill with his current level of spiritual power would have been futile. Maintaining the grass stalk in his mouth, he intermittently sipped from the jar of Qi-Returning Liquid to supplement the output of spiritual energy from his body. Compared to his spiritual energy, his soul power was overpowering. Two days later, Drake Dragon detected a hint of fatigue, evidence of the immense consumption of soul power. However, the alchemy furnace now contained all the necessary ingredients, leaving only the finishing touches. The aroma of the medicine began to permeate the air. Although Drake Dragon could usually prepare this first-tier elixir with ease, the significance of this particular batch heightened his nerves. Claiming not to feel any anxiety would be a lie. A buzz suddenly reverberated within the alchemy furnace, as the atmosphere grew increasingly tumultuous. Yet Drake Dragon remained calm, a smile gracing his face. This marked the arrival of the elixir-making process's climax, the most critical juncture. Activating his soul power to its fullest extent, Drake Dragon's hand-held flame surged forth, invisibly enveloping the alchemy furnace and locking it securely. This technique, known as "Sealing the Heaven and Locking the Earth," was a creation of Drake Dragon's memory, designed to prevent pill explosions and furnace meltdowns. Furthermore, this technique boasted tremendous practicality. It swiftly sealed all the medicinal power within the furnace, with minimal loss. Ordinarily, alchemists employed this technique as a final step, employing gentle methods to stabilize the elixir due to its inherent volatility. Though this method reduced risks, it also significantly diminished the vitality of the medicine, resulting in an average effect of the elixir. With Drake Dragon's soul power exerted to the maximum, a muffled boom resonated throughout the alchemy furnace, followed by silence. Gazing at the now tranquil alchemy furnace, Drake Dragon couldn't help but gasp for air. Sweat drenched his entire body, leaving him feeling dizzy. After some time, Drake Dragon regained his composure. Overwhelmed with excitement, he cautiously removed the lid, his hands trembling slightly. To his eyes appeared five spherical pills, releasing a powerful medicinal fragrance that filled the entire room. Exultation spread across Drake Dragon's face as he murmured, "Two low-grade pills, three failed ones... well, revealing their actual quality could kill me." Drake Dragon chuckled, merging memories with that of the previous Alchemy Emperor. It seemed the late emperor had been overly arrogant. Disregarding any sense of embarrassment, Drake Dragon hastily inspected the five pills in his hands, examining them intently. The two low-grade elixirs possessed a pleasing roundness, emitting an invigorating aroma upon smelling. Drake Dragon couldn't help but feel overjoyed. One completed pill could easily fetch hundreds of thousands of gold coins in the imperial capital. Even the three subpar elixirs surpassed the quality of those his mother had desperately begged for. They managed to retain 30% of the essence, locked within the elixirs. When the medicinal essence accounted for 50% of the elixir's composition, it was deemed low-grade. Low-grade elixirs made up the majority in the elixir world, constituting over 80% of all known elixirs. Sixty percent of medicinal essence denoted a middle-grade elixir, while 70%, 80%, and 90% indicated top-grade elixirs. Achieving a full 100% signified a top-grade elixir of the highest caliber. Hehe. Drake Dragon is not currently contemplating the matter; it is too distant to be of concern. Some individuals may ponder on the distinction between 50% and 60% efficacy, questioning whether it is more preferable to consume two elixirs of lower quality rather than a single elixir of medium grade. However, anyone raising such a query would face severe criticism. Apart from its essence, elixirs contain impurities that cannot be absorbed by the body. These impurities offset a portion of the absorbed essence. The saying, "three parts of medicine are poisons," is not a mere proverb but a fact. During the condensation process of an elixir, erysipelas, a form of poison, is inevitably produced. If left untaken for an extended period, this poison causes little discomfort. However, for practitioners, elixirs often serve as life-saving elixirs. One does not know how many they will need in their lifetime. When the erysipelas in one's body reaches a certain level of concentration, it becomes a fatal poison. Erysipelas is a stubborn toxin that permeates deep into the flesh, bone marrow, and even the soul. The more advanced the elixir, the lesser the side effects. Consequently, the disparity in effectiveness between low-grade elixirs and mid-grade elixirs exceeds tenfold, whereas the price difference exceeds a hundredfold. Drake Dragon collected the five pills, the pill furnace, and all related items before succumbing to exhaustion and falling asleep. Unaware of how long he had slumbered, Drake Dragon felt the caress of warm hands against his cheek when he next awoke. He could hear faint murmurs, but fatigue prevented him from awakening fully. Three days had already elapsed when Drake Dragon regained consciousness. Overwhelmed with hunger, he hastily devoured a meal, preparing to resume his training. Ingesting a waste elixir, he employed his soul's power to activate the energy within the elixir, entering through the Yongquan point in his feet. This location concentrated the first star of the Nine-Star Hegemonic Body Technique, known as the Fengfu Star. A resounding "boom" echoed as Drake Dragon's right foot trembled, causing the ground beneath him to explode and fissures to spread throughout the room. "Excellent, we have identified the meridian route and precise location. Now, we can commence the true breakthrough," Drake Dragon smiled faintly, producing a low-grade Fengfu Dan. Swiftly consuming it, an exceedingly pure energy surged forth. Guided by Drake Dragon's pulling force, the energy traveled directly towards the Yongquan point in his feet. The spring point on his sole stirred, akin to nourishing a parched riverbed. As the medicinal power flooded in, it seemed to unleash the havoc of a dragon. With a thunderous explosion, formidable energy overflowed. Drake Dragon's body remained steady, radiating a terrifying aura. The entire room shattered, engulfed in smoke and dust while waves of air billowed. As the smoke gradually dissipated, Drake Dragon's handsome face came into view. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he sensed a bean-sized entity at the sole of his foot. Endless energy surged into his body through his foot, prompting Drake Dragon to yearn for the freedom of an unrestrained roar to the heavens. The commotion arising from Drake Dragon's actions caught the attention of the entire Hou Mansion, prompting everyone to rush over. Upon seeing his mother approach, Drake Dragon hastily spoke, "Mom, today is the day the prince's studies commence at the Taixue Palace. I must proceed there immediately." Having said that, he left behind a group of stunned witnesses amidst the remnants of a shattered room. Dressed in clean attire, he headed straight for the Taixue Palace.